Also, the new six-speed manual transmission is now said to be easier to operate, more precise and has a shorter shift travel than the shifter it replaces.
C-class now has an interior which is even more cockpit-like, with a new layout and enough upgraded knobs and do-hickeys to amuse the toughest critic. This new setup does indeed look more sophisticated, as Mercedes claims, and the metallic trim around the fabric bits gives the car that sense of German engineering which is after all one of the main reasons for buying a Mercedes.
Four dials with white lighting in the style of ''high-quality chronometers'' form the centrepiece of the completely redesigned cockpit. Between the speedometer and tachometer, information appears in a vertical central display which corresponds to the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel and allows numerous individual settings to be selected.
The form and function of the air conditioning controls has also been improved, with large, clearly arranged rotary switches that are supposed to make adjustment easier while contributing to the high-value interior impression.
There are also seats that were created specifically for the model choices, which mean the sportier variations will get more support, and so on. Also, the company's Thermatic automatic climate control is now standard.
For the most part, these are all worthwhile changes and Mercedes is to be commeded for making them.
I would also like to thank the German firm for a change it did not make -- the travel length of the front seats. Most companies limit the amount of distance the front seats can travel backwards in compact cars so it doesn't look like there's no kneeroom in the rear. Not Mercedes in the C-class, as I could actually move the seat so far back that I could not reach the pedals, which is an extremely rare event.
As a result of all this, the driver's seat of a C-class is a very agreeable place to be, even when the car is not moving.
There's a new engine for the sedan and wagon -- the 1.8-litre supercharged inline-four, borrowed from the coupe, which does a surprisingly good job if you push it in the C 230 Kompressor model.
The C 240 Kompressor with the 2.6-litre inline four delivers better performance but worse horsepower, and the same can be said for the 3.2-litre V6 in the C 320. As for the V8-powered C55 AMG model, well there's nothing like excess to show the world how well you're doing.
There are also upgrades to the sound and navigation systems, but decisions on those things for Canada usually lag the media test drive and this time is no exception.
C-class now has an interior which is even more cockpit-like, with a new layout and enough upgraded knobs and do-hickeys to amuse the toughest critic. This new setup does indeed look more sophisticated, as Mercedes claims, and the metallic trim around the fabric bits gives the car that sense of German engineering which is after all one of the main reasons for buying a Mercedes.
Four dials with white lighting in the style of ''high-quality chronometers'' form the centrepiece of the completely redesigned cockpit. Between the speedometer and tachometer, information appears in a vertical central display which corresponds to the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel and allows numerous individual settings to be selected.
The form and function of the air conditioning controls has also been improved, with large, clearly arranged rotary switches that are supposed to make adjustment easier while contributing to the high-value interior impression.
There are also seats that were created specifically for the model choices, which mean the sportier variations will get more support, and so on. Also, the company's Thermatic automatic climate control is now standard.
For the most part, these are all worthwhile changes and Mercedes is to be commeded for making them.
I would also like to thank the German firm for a change it did not make -- the travel length of the front seats. Most companies limit the amount of distance the front seats can travel backwards in compact cars so it doesn't look like there's no kneeroom in the rear. Not Mercedes in the C-class, as I could actually move the seat so far back that I could not reach the pedals, which is an extremely rare event.
As a result of all this, the driver's seat of a C-class is a very agreeable place to be, even when the car is not moving.
There's a new engine for the sedan and wagon -- the 1.8-litre supercharged inline-four, borrowed from the coupe, which does a surprisingly good job if you push it in the C 230 Kompressor model.
The C 240 Kompressor with the 2.6-litre inline four delivers better performance but worse horsepower, and the same can be said for the 3.2-litre V6 in the C 320. As for the V8-powered C55 AMG model, well there's nothing like excess to show the world how well you're doing.
There are also upgrades to the sound and navigation systems, but decisions on those things for Canada usually lag the media test drive and this time is no exception.
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